MARCH 2008

Fighting words

Going nuclear
The most cost-effective solution?

Syria moves ahead
Moving ahead and improving neighborly commerce

A change in US Mideast policy?
George W. Bush remains silent on Syria

Iran’s mutually assured destruction
MAD as option for deterrence

Lebanon’s tremors
Sitting on the other fault line

Egypt’s foreigners
Foreigners return “home”

Special Economic Zones, how to make them special
How to make Special Economic zone truly special

Trouble brewing beyond the oil fields
Soft and hard commodities becoming more expensive

Privatization: As public as it gets
Privatization: As public as it gets

UK-Lebanese trade setting sights on a better future
Fostering British-Lebanese trade in uncertain times

Extraordinary risk insurance – Playing it safe in a dangerous world
Only 20% of Lebanese are covered from the risks that face them

Port of Beirut – A Trading Culture
Transshipping expansion makes some waves

BLOM Cedars Balanced Fund – For Lebanese, by Lebanese
New mutual fund gives retail customers a vehicle to participate in the Lebanese capital market

Micro-credit – In Abundance
AMEEN and partners have opened the door to unbankable borrowers

Recycling – The potential of garbage
Waste management companies talk about the business side of trash

Aviation taking off
Damascus grants three licenses for new private airlines

Opening up
Holding companies and the prospect of private equity

Lifting the ban
Changes are afoot in parliament

GCC offsets the West
Arab investors capitalize on Sudan’s trade vacuum

Making movies
Regional film productions get new life

Prime Pictures
Hollywood producer talks about his experience and the region

The Arab future of Senegal
Government hopes Islamic conference will bring investment to the country

For the love of cows
Cattle are plentiful yet the price of meat is skyrocketing

Downstream energy industries
Minister announces plan to boost phosphate production

Beyond the coast Tourism sector faces challenges
Tourism sector faces challenges

European-Med cooperation
Here’s looking at you, EU

Morocco - Tourism
Royal family buys big slice of investment fund

Through the roof
Gaza breach causes “mini inflation” in Sinai

Introducing private equity to MENA
Bringing commodities to market

Expanding infrastructure is attracting investment
Expanding infrastructure is attracting investment

Secondaries, another promising dimension
Secondaries, another promising dimension

Another stellar year amidst mounting challenges
Private equity in GCC

The region’s telecom offers significant opportunities
The region’s telecom offers significant opportunities

A perspective of the private equity cycle in the MENA region
A perspective of the private equity cycle in the MENA region

The macroeconomic context
Concern, liberalization, and control

The microeconomic lens
Does private equity bring value with its capital?

Industrial outlook
The business of private equity

Funds of funds viewed as hot investment tool
The hot investment tool during bearish markets comes with high fees — are they worthwhile?

Vice funds pose moral dilemma for many investors
Alcohol, gambling, defense and tobacco are lucrative, but pose a moral dilemma

The market responds
Consequences of burgeoning private equity on regional bourses

Private equity and family firms
It’s all in the family

Private equity spotlight: Saudi Arabia
Arabia’s Camelot

Sector focus
Privatizations are freeing up telecom, media and technology industries

Strategic synergy
Investcorp returns to its homeland with the Gulf Growth Capital Fund

US-Middle East relations in light of the US elections
Will free trade with the US expand in the region?

More than chrome
Iconic motorcycle makes a statement of freedom

IPO Watch – Rosy outlook
Investors partake in region’s stable equity markets

Money Matters by BLOMINVEST Bank

Company bulletin

Global economic data
Total GDP per capita; Education; Quality of life; access to household computers in OECD countries

Politics of – Entertainment
There is no room for not to taking sides